E(thio)PIC! I sought this place as it seemed to make it on every top 10 list in the last few years and boy I was SO glad I searched and found this ethnic gem! It fired on all cylinders Location - on the bustling, culturally rich H street corridor Ambience - clean, simple, inviting with the floor to ceiling glass windows that give it an open airy vibe- and I got a great spot looking out at the street Food - mouth watering! I went for the vegetarian sampler with the mix of lentils, potato and substituted collard greens for a cabbage/carrot dish - one spicy side mellowed by other flavorful ones, with some black Ethiopian tea to sip alongside. The injera was perfection - this will now be the bar I hold that bread to! Service - friendly, prompt and eager to please Price - reasonable And here's a list extra DC flair - fellow diners - a mix of couples, friends, twosomes, groups - and while I focused on the food, I got a sense these were interesting people around me! I will miss being a regular here ...but Ethiopic was one of the most memorable Ethiopian fare I've had in a long long time... DC delivered! read more

This was fairly hip/trendy compared to other Ethiopian restaurants I have been to in DC. I generally go to Ethiopian restaurants to get a lot of delicious food at an affordable price. However, Ethiopic is definitely on the pricier end. I expected the higher menu prices to be offset by excellent service, but it really wasn't. Not sure why I ended up paying so much when 5 of us shared two samplers (One Vegetarian Sampler II, One Beef and Chicken Wot Sampler). The food was good. Nothing next level, but I enjoyed it. The two samplers was a good amount of food for five people. My real rating would be 3.5 half stars if possible, but 4 would definitely be pushing it so I went 3 for the Yelp rating. Not really worth the price tag, but if you are in the H street area and are craving Ethiopian food, the food is good here! read more

Every time I visit DC this is my go to! The vegetarian platter is absolutely amazing even for those meat lovers. My daughter is a huge fan of their lamb tips and whole fish. Takeout is perfectly packed for home enjoyment but when you have a moment to visit in person, do yourself a favor and take advantage! Super clean and all COVID precautions taken. Staff are kind, friendly, and efficient. I can't say enough great things about it. Enjoy!!!! read more

Three and a half stars. I like their injera the least of those in the area since it was less durable than others'. The complimentary table bread with chili oil was something that I can do without. Their signature lamb tibs and kik aletcha were quite good, and eased my dissatisfaction with the 40 minute wait with only two other tables dining that afternoon. Servers were friendly and kept our waters topped off. I'd call ahead for takeout next time, since I'm still curious about their raw kitfo, and vegetarian sampler II with fried croaker fish. read more

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Amazing food!!! Service was great, loved the lighting and interior of the restaurant, especially the art!

Good service and delicious food. I don't claim to be a connoisseur of Ethiopian food but relative to the 4-5 other places I've been to; this place serves the classic dishes you'd expect with reliable Injera. The tibs is my favorite. The lamb dish we ordered wasn't memorable so perhaps I'd stick to beef next time as well as veggies like fousolia and timatim. read more

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Came here for a group dinner on a Wednesday night. The six of us were seated at a table for four, with two chairs pulled up to the ends. It actually worked well for us, though I was confused as to why we could be seated at a six person table since there was plenty of space. Our waiter was helpful in assisting us with our order and giving recommendations. I had the signature split peas dish which came to the table bubbling hot and was absolutely delicious. I also ordered the fried fish (croaker) which I shared with some of my friends at the table. It wasn't super big, but I was glad we ordered it because it was DELICIOUS. Everyone else enjoyed their lamb and beef tibs and large vegetarian platter. Prices were reasonable; with everyone ordering drinks it came out to about $26 per person before tip and we all ate very well. There were leftovers. The honey wine (they have multiple types!) seemed popular, but I didn't try it. There was a great selection for vegetarians. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back again. read more

Good Ethiopian food. I got the chef special lamb dish. It was like a stir fry with lamb and spices., it was good.We also got the chicken , it was good. The service is bit slow but giving it benefit of doiubt , as we were there on a late Thursday night. read more

Ethiopic - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The best Ethiopian food I've had. I love that Ethiopic offers dishes that are hard to find at other restaurants. My favorites include the key sir (so light and refreshing), butcha (chickpeas that have an almost cheese-like quality), fosolia (I don't usually like green beans, but I *love* this), and shiro (how do they make it so creamy?!). We're so lucky to have this on H Street. read more

This was my second time eating Ethiopian food but my first time at Ethiopic. It was overall amazing!!!! I was very impressed how authentic it was. We had 4 people and ordered the veggie sample II, the beef and chicken sampler, and the lamb tips. I was told that each sampler is enough for two people but it was a ton of food. All delicious. But I think my absolute favorite was the lamb tips. It was extremely delicious. I would have been happy with just that. So I'd recommend the lamb tips and veggie sampler as must haves! Overall, id definitely go again! read more

Ethiopic - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lalalove my dining experience here. If you're not sure you want to try this restaurant, GO FOR IT - TRY IT! A colleague suggested Ethiopic when I was trying to decide on something new to dine on for my birthday. Neither myself or my aunt have ever tried Ethiopian cuisine but we were up for giving it a shot. We were immediately greeted and seated. Our waiter asked for our beverage choices and when she returned with them we asked for her suggestion on a meal since we were new diners. She was glad to assist. We had the Vegetarian II w/Fried Fish and when it arrived at our table our waiter returned and explained what everything was and how to properly eat it. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures but I will definitely be back soon and will definitely take pictures to post! read more

I went to Ethiopic a couple of days ago and the food was delicious. We had the Azifa, which is a lentil salad, the signature lamb tibs and the beef awaze tibs. It was way too much food for 2 people, but that didn't stop us from packing it in! Everything was well seasoned and had a little kick. The tomato salad that comes with your entree is my favorite part. I had white wine and she had red, both from the Ethiopian portion of the wine menu. What would have made the experience 5 stars is a little more attention from the staff. For example, tell us that we're over-ordering or how to eat the food. I also noticed that the servers placed the food on the injera for other diners..but just set everything down in front of us. We figured it out, but it would've been nice to have help. read more

Ethiopic - Azifa and spongy injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ethiopic never misses. The vibe in the restaurant is very relaxing and the vegetarian sampler for 2 with fried fish is one of our favorites! The service is friendly, quick and reliable. Definitely a must try! read more

Loved it. Took cousin from out of town. Fantastic, high quality. Would go again. Thank you!

Food was good, but the staff is incredibly rude. Absolutely NO service at all, but they add a 20% gratuity. You have to order online and the staff never comes by unless they are dropping off food. This would be great for takeout, but it's a terrible dining experience. read more

This used to be one of our favorite restaurants, and we've been going here since it opened as one of the pioneers on the new H Street. But we were very disappointed Saturday night. Service was slow, without the smiles and charm of previous occasions. The Awaze Tibs were pick-the-gristle-out-of-your-mouth tough, and lacked the usual Berbere spice. What the Mesir Wot lacked in spice, it unfortunately made up for in grease. We had learned the last time not to chance the dry and flavorless Samosas. And apparently you no longer get a few complementary side dishes ladled onto the injera serving tray. And although the mandatory 20% service charge is becoming a predictable result of the District's "Tipped Wage," one expects better than this. We did not feel moved to add anything to the check, and will think twice about eating here again. read more

My husband and I brought out-of-town guests here so they could try Ethiopian food for the first time. We made a reservation ahead of time via Yelp since I wasn't sure how busy they would be for dinner on a Saturday night. I have eaten at two other Ethiopian restaurants in D.C. (and maybe five Ethiopian restaurants overall) and Ethiopic is the best one I've tried so far. Our server was very helpful when it came to making our selections, and our group of four decided to order the veggie sampler and the meat sampler. There were several spicy dishes included with each sampler as well as some dishes that were more mild. As is usual for me when it comes to Ethiopian food, I preferred the veggie dishes, especially the lentils. The injera was perfect, and the two samplers were just the right amount of food for the four of us. read more

I love Ethiopic and am thrilled to live nearby. Their signature tibs are a MUST if you eat meat. Their injera is fluffy and delicious, the vegan sampler is perfect, and the atmosphere is homey and inviting. read more

Boyfriend brought me here for Valentine's Day. The ambiance was so nice! It's dim and cozy, perfect for date night. Everything was so authentic from the art on the walls to the food. The server was very friendly and helpful to show us how to eat Ethiopian food (neither of us knew what we were doing loll) We really enjoyed ourselves! We'll definitely be back read more

Ethiopic - Apps! - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Some of my favorite Ethiopian in the DC area. As with most Ethiopian restaurants, excellent vegan options. Definitely on the pricier side (you're laying for the location and ambiance) but the flavors are great. I especially love their fosolia, and they let you sub items on the veggie sampler so we got two of those! read more

Ethiopic - Injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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You don't need a history lesson to love Ethiopian food. You don't need to know that it is the birthplace of modern man. Or that it is where coffee originated. You don't need to know that this is the only African nation to thwart the European colonialism, nor that its sprawling fields are considered some of the oldest agricultural staples in the world. You don't need to know any of that. You just need to know that the best Ethiopian food this side of the Atlantic is right here in DC at Ethiopic. Walking through the doors of this small, quaint, beautifully decorated and modern restaurant is to be transported to the warmth of the Old World. The aroma of spices wades through the air and greets you, alongside an ever-smiling staff that not once hesitates to make sure that your experience is nothing less than stellar. The beautiful interiors can serve as the spot of simple evening fare or the perfect place for a date and conversations. The staff is by far the friendliest, most attentive you will come across, who will enhance your dining experience through sheer warmth and care. ...and the food. Ah, the exceptional dishes that overflow with flavor and spice. This is where Ethiopic excels. The extensive menu is filled with a wide range of vegetarian, lamb, meat and fish meals, each prepared to perfection. I especially enjoy the Signature Lamb Tibs, prepared with red onions, rosemary, jalapenos and tomatoes, served in a candle-warmed clay pot along with the moistest, most divine Injira [bread] to touch the lips. Equally satisfying are the samplers that combine a collection of meats and vegetables (or just vegetarian choices) atop a large Injira and can be savored collectively. But my absolute favorite is the Kitfo that has no equal in its texture, spices, presentation and flavor. Period, end of story. As great as the food, service and ambiance are, the prices are so incredibly reasonable that you can dine here practically every night without breaking the bank. So do yourself a favor and bring some friends and visit this hidden treasure in the heart of H Street. Your taste buds will thank you for it. read more

Ethiopic - Charming outside - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Tasted amazing! I loved how friendly the staff was and how the Ethiopian culture was expressed in this great restaurant!

3.5 I hadn't had Ethiopian in years. The first time for me, not so great. I said I would give it one last try. Ethiopic is very cozy. I love the lighted cylinders in the middle of room, like Japanese Kyoto lamps. So cool, the lighting, with the mahogany wood floors, exposed brick, and really nice artwork, kind of gives the restaurant a sort of living room appeal. Dinner- I really wanted the fried croaker; apparently this is a popular dish, because they had ran out. So, I went with the Yebeg Alethcha Wot, lamb chunks cooked in a mild curry sauce. To be honest, this was an average dish, the lamb was not the most tender, the curry was not the most hearty or spicy, the sauce very thin as I prefer more of a gravy since I am eating it with bread. Oh how I longed for rice, but I went on and got to dippin' and rippin' that cold spongy injera. It was aight. To be honest the food was tasty and a lot better than my previous experience. The staff is super hospitable and they actually start you out by placing the food on your plate, which I thought was a very kind and humble gesture. They watched us to see if we were actually enjoying the food, yet they are really laid back and easy going. As for that cold spongy injera at least I had my own, they came wrapped up like mini paper towels in a basket. Very nice presentation. This turned out to be a wonderful experience, the type of meal that is very intimate in nature, (beyond the food) this is what I found to be most unique. read more

4.5 Stars. When in Washington DC, one must go to an Ethiopian restaurant. There are nearly 200,000 Ethiopians in the DC area. You know what that means? Some really great food... plus I get to eat with my hands!! We ordered 2 entrees and a veggie sampler to share amongst 4 people. 1) Ethiopic Signature Tips - described on the menu as tender boneless leg of lamb marinated & sauteed with red onions, garlic, jalapeno pepper, fresh tomato, rose- mary, herbs & spices served sizzling hot. 2) Sega Key Wot - described on the menu as tender pieces of prime beef sauteed in butter, and simmered in hot berbere sauce seasoned with spices and herbs (spicy) 3) Vegetarian Sampler - including gomen (collard green), miser wot (lentils), kik aletcha (yellow split peas), dinich wot (curried potato) Of the items we ordered, I'm a big fan of the lamb tips, collard green, and curried potato. The injera (yeast flatbread) was delicious! Cheers to Yelpers Natasha U and Jim U for the recommendation! I'm so glad that I met you two! ENJOY!! read more

Just go already. The food is great, the wine is on point, the service is great, and the atmosphere is wonderful. I don't have a bad word to say about Ethiopic. It's just freaking delicious. Great for special date nights, friends, and couples. At night, the lighting is romantic. Not a place to take babies and young kids, imo. Not sure what's up with the bad reviews. I've been to this restaurant at least five times and never had a bad experience. The portion sizes are appropriate . You can get a veggie platter plus one side and that's more than plenty. read more

Hello Ethiopia! I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food and I've had some good Ethiopian before... but this place scores it in many levels. I've been here only once and I have to tell you this place is absolutely fantastic!! The restaurant it self is so cute and modern. The waitresses were amazingly nice, friendly,smiling, joking with us.. And very, very attentive. The quality of food was great! Fresh, Well spiced, well presented and delicious. The menu has a variety of vegetarian combo. Perfect for vegans! And reasonable price! Can't wait to come back again! read more

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The research that went into finding "The Best Ethiopian Restaurant" in DC left me confused and doubtful in picking Ethiopic. The debate on this topic is pretty real over on the Chowhound forums. We came here on a Saturday afternoon with a *reservation. The servers greeted us warmly and sat us in front of the window over looking H Street, perfect for people-watching. I started off with some Ethiopian Honey Wine [$7] which has a deep cinnamon, Big Red flavor to it. It was pretty sweet and I am a fan of sweet wine. This was excellent. The waitress even gave me a sample before I committed to a glass. Food: The complimentary bread and the chili/hot sauce concoction served at the beginning of the meal was fantastic. Ethiopic Signature Kitfo [$14]: The best way to describe this dish would be to call it beef tartare. The waitress recommended the raw preparation, though you can get it cooked. The pieces of beef are slightly more grounded than a traditional tartare. I was intrigued and skeptical of the accompanying spinach, which took on a paste-like texture, resembling a thick pesto. The cottage cheese was kind of crumbly. When you combine the meat with all the ingredients in the injera, it's harmonious. Ethiopic Signature Tibs [$13]: The lamb was mouthwatering and succulent. Be weary of the jalapenos in this dish though, eating a whole piece will cause your mouth to go up in flames. The Ethiopian chili on the side was spicy in a way that added flavor, not heat. The injera was spongey and plentiful. It fills you up quickly as it expands in your stomach. Notes: -The portions here are huge. My friend and I could pack it away and even we thought two dishes were more than enough. -We skipped on dessert. I'm not a fan of baklava in the first place, nor do I think it's indigenous to Ethiopia. Sure, Ethiopic is more expensive than the other Ethiopian restaurants in DC, but I still think it's pretty damn delicious and inexpensive compared to other types of cuisine. __ *Reservation not necessary. There were about 2 other tables occupied. Fun Fact: The shelving unit in the bathroom was from Ikea. read more

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Ethiopic is, by far, the best Ethiopian I've had in D.C., both in terms of the quality of the food and in terms of the atmosphere. Ethiopic is a fairly nice Ethiopian joint on H Street that, by my estimation, is the nicest Ethiopian place in D.C. The interior is super chic and clean, service is superb (shout-out to Mimi (sp?), a phenomenal waitress), and the prices are absolutely reasonable for the high quality of the food. I tried the Butcha (chickpeas), Timatim (diced tomatoes and jalapenos), Ethiopic Signature Tibs (basically just lamb tibs) and the Ethiopic Signature Kitfo (basically raw beef tartare that was heavily seasoned). All were absolutely amazing. The Butcha and Timatim were great appetizers in that they were light and extremely flavorful, though I'll note that the Timaitim was little more than very light salsa. The Tibs and Kitfo were just outright excellent - the tibs were the best I've ever had, and the Kitfo was superbly seasoned for being little more than a mix of raw meat and spices. Both dishes were delicious in a way that was both unique and comforting - there's nothing I tried here that I wouldn't have even the most picky eaters try. Needless to say, I ate myself full here, would recommend every dish I tried, and will definitely be coming back. read more

Definitely more a fan of the look and feel of Ethiopic than I was of the food but that isn't always a bad thing. I like the layout from the almost full length glass and bay windows, to the cozy decorations, Ethiopic has a warm and inviting decor. The staff adds to the welcoming environment as everybody was friendly. They make sure to keep tabs on you throughout your meal to make sure you have everyhting you need. They also don't hound you like some other places and make you feel like you're just a table to turn if you don't spring from your seat the moment the bill comes and the check is paid. You really feel as though they value you as a customer and appreciate your business. Food was just okay to me, normally I hate anything vegetarian just on principle but their vegetarian sampler which also comes with fish was actually the best part of the meal. For the most part, the vegetables were afresh and well prepared, the potatoes were a little a bit under-cooked and therefore on the hard side though. Fish was tricky at first but mainly because I was a little slow to figure out how to get the meat off the bones but once I crossed that hurdle, it was tasty as well. I was mostly disappointed with my beef stew, twas a bit on the bland side and didn't do anything to blow me away with flavor or kick. Probably the reason the majority of it was left in the bowl. Bartender also needs a lesson in what vodka and soda with a splash of cranberry as I got blood red cranberry juice with perhaps the splash of vodka. Ethiopic didn't do enough to blow me away but I still recommend if you're a fan of this cuisine and looking for a nice spot with a great staff to try. read more

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There's a lot of hype around ethiopic and part of me thinks it's because a lot of the newspaper folk/bloggers haven't really eaten at the many ethiopian joints of the U st corridor. But since H st is the new chic place for food these days Ethiopic is gonna get some extra play. But it's really not unjustified. I think Ethiopic beats out meskerem, dukem, and etete in my book but I think Madjet still edges it out a little flavor wise. Where ethiopic loses to no one is in the ludicrous portions they serve. My group of 6 got one order of kitfo, one veggie sampler for 2 (with the fish... get the fish it's great), and the beef and chicken sampler and it was really enough food for like 3 more people. Any of the regular orders is good for 2 people and any of the samplers are good for 4. Also for hte uninitiated to Ethiopian food, i think the injera really expands in your stomach so if you eat too quickly be prepared to feel uncomfortably full as it sets in. i'd say take your time... which i never do but it's all in the game. read more

This was my first time eating Ethiopian food so I have no basis for comparison, but I really enjoyed the food. We ordered the lamb tibbs and the Vegetarian Sampler with Fish. Everything was delicious and we left stuffed. The weird part of the experience is that we were told we needed to order and pay via our phone due to covid. However, we noticed everyone else in the outdoor seating area ordered and paid at their table. Not sure why we were treated differently and am not a fan. This difference translated into a discrepancy in the service. We weren't able to ask about portion sizes or anything on the menu, and we had to stop the waitresses on their way back from other tables to ask them to help us identify the different parts of the platter. read more

Love love love love love this place! The food is GREAT! In case people don't know, because I didn't, there is no silverware which is kind of great actually! They bring out a large plate with injera on it (I'm pretty sure that's the name of the bread?) which you share with everyone at your table. It's a great way to sample other people's dishes! I had the Yebeg Alethcha Wot which was lamb simmered in a mild curry sauce and it was soooo good! My boyfriend got the Ethiopic signature tibs that were marinated and sauteed with onions, garlic, and jalapenos. The restaurant is a bit smaller than I expected and it can get loud quickly but if that doesn't bother you then no worries! They also noticed on my ID that it was my birthday so they brought out a free dessert at the end of our meal! So kind! This is a great place to try if you want to try Ethiopian food! read more

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There are times when how the food appears and how it tastes don't match up. Examples of delicious foods that look less than delicious: 1. Guacamole. 2. Tapioca 3. Oatmeal None of these foods look appetizing. They are all, however, much better tasting than they look. Well, except Tapioca. I could never really feel the love for it. I can now add to my list most of what I ate at Ethiopic last weekend. It looked, uh, well, a lot like what happened after drinking too much in college. The taste though? Very, very good. Dearest Oldest Shopaholic Friend and I found ourselves in Washington DC looking for an interesting place to eat. Since neither of us had ever had Ethiopian food before, and dear fellow Yelpers had given this place such good reviews, we decided to be a bit adventurous. The restaurant itself is clean, nicely lit, lots of wood and brick. The neighborhood is 'transitional' - hip new places next to establishments with names like "Dollar General" and "First Evangelical Holiness Light of God Church". We came on a busy Saturday night and were pleased to be able to score a table right away near the bar. Because of all the flat surfaces - wood floors, brick walls, glass, etc - it's on the highly noisy side. They would do well to add some fabric panels that absorb noise. We ordered one of the vegetarian samplers and an order of Minchet Abish Aletcha Wot which was described as finely chopped mild beef. Wine list was thin - one ordered the red Zinfandel - very nice - and the other ordered the Pinot Grigio- fine, nothing to shout off the rooftops over. We were then brought slices of a nutty brown bread we didn't catch the name of and a chili powder & olive oil dip - yum! Nice flavor with a hint of heat from the chili powder. Dinner arrived on this thin spongy bread that looks something like tripe but tastes nothing like it. While everything looked, uh, runny and lumpy, it was all really quite good. Very interesting flavors, none of which competed with each other. The collard green dish was surprising for me as I generally don't like collards but loved this. We finished with what was described as a creme brûlée but really was more like a caramel flan. It was still really good. Service was attentive, though between accented English and the general noise level it was difficult at times to make out what she was saying, hence my general lack of knowledge of what foods were called. One star off for the sound levels and the fact that as the night wore on our service became less and less attentive, which, given the overall cost, was disappointing. It was good enough that its' on my list of foods to seek out despite appearances. Sometimes ya just have to shut your eyes when you're eating, yanno? This was one of those times I was happy to have done exactly that. read more

We are big fans of Ethiopian cuisine and have tried quite a few Ethiopian restaurants in the DMV area. While are favorite places are in the U Street corridor, we wanted to give this place a try. Ethiopic is not your ordinary Ethiopian restaurant (bad customer service, crowded restaurants). Instead it is an upscale restaurant serving good Ethiopian food. I equate this to Rasika for Indian food if you know what I mean. We stopped by with no reservation and were prepared to have our dinner by the bar. I strongly recommend reservations for this place since it is generally always packed. We were lucky that a tabled opened up before our food was served at the bar! The service here is good - quick and attentive which makes the experience that much better :) Food is good too - almost flawless. The injera was thin and fresh :) We ordered Doro Wat, Lamb Tibs and Veg Sample #1. Most of the food was way better than other Ethiopian restaurants except a couple of misses. The lamb tibs, though flavorful, was cooked a tad bit too much rendering about half the meat pieces to be too chewy for our liking. Some of the potatoes in the veg potato dish were almost raw and not edible. The rest of the meal, as mentioned before, was flawless! Ethiopic is definitely a jewel in the crown for good Ethiopian food with good service. But that comes with a higher price tag that what you would expect for Ethiopian food. read more

This place is wonderful!! Service and food is top notch!!! Every time I visit I have a great experience!

This place is being renovated, and so it's reaaaally cute. Service is more than awesome. The server greeted us with a huge smile and was very friendly the entire time. I got one of their veggie meals (I was vegan that day) and my friend got one of the lamb dishes which she absolutely LOVED. Both of us were so full later that we had to skip dinner. Will def. come here again on one of my non-vegan days to try out a meat meal. Can't wait :) read more

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We ordered the vegetarian sampler for two, and it was excellent. However, our visit was an oddly impersonal experience. Customers order at the table with a QR code. This seems bizarre in a dine-in restaurant, especially when people may not be familiar with the cuisine and want to ask questions. Servers brought our food and drinks without saying anything; no one returned to ask how the food was. There is a 20% service charge. Other restaurants do this, but they at least wait on customers. If you don't want to welcome people to your restaurant, why not just do takeout? If I returned, it would be for takeout. read more

I went to Ethiopic on Saturday, July 16th around 8:30 PM. I was fairly empty for a Saturday but, I am glad because we were seated right away. The food was delicious and very memorable. We were in town for the weekend and wanted to try a different type of cuisine. We had the Azifa (Appetizer), which was a cold lentil salad that was served with Injera, the Ethiopic Signature Lamb Tibs, and the Awaze Beef Tibs. It was more than enough food for two people. But, because we were not given any instruction on how to go about eating Ethiopian food by the server. Considering it was our first time eating this type of food we would have liked some sort of instructions. Even though we were full we continued to eat all of the food, which had to be eaten by hand. All of the food was tasty, well seasoned and mouth watering. If you like a hint of heat/ spicy with your food than they will provide you with everything you need in one bite of the food. We enjoyed the Timatim, which is a cold tomato salad so much that we asked to get some to take home to eat with the left over bread and Azifa. We order from the Ethopina wine list: the Axumite (sweet red wine) and the honey white wine. Which were both delicious although, I wish they had a wine tasting flight so we can have tried them all. I think the servers could have treated us a bit better by asking their guest if it was there first time at the establishment. It would help those like us who had to figure out how to go about this meal alone. I would return to this restaurant anytime I am in the area. read more

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Soup on a tortilla. I'm spooning spicy split pea soup onto the largest flatbread I've ever seen and eating it with my fingers! Ok it's more of a crepe, made with teff that fermented for 3 days, a zillion bubbly pockets on one side and smooth on the other, yummy but still a challenge. If you want any respect here don't ask for a fork! :) The Ethiopic Shiro (split peas with onions & garlic) was promised as spicy on the menu but arrived somewhere between American mild and medium. To be fair my very friendly and knowledgeable server Liah warned me it was not truly spicy. But it was basically a smooth soup only, no chunks, no structure. Hard to scoop soup!! At $14 it was not cheap, but not crazy either. Look, you're filling up on bread here. They start you with house-baked fresh bread with black cumin seeds in it plus a small dish of neutral olive oil. Then with your meal you get a basket of washcloths - no, sorry :) - you get rolls of the same thin crepe-like tortilla. Use the bubbly side down to scoop up the stuff but it ain't easy so you keep scooping and wind up eating a lotta carbs. One complaint only: my ginormous flatbread-tortilla-crepe was cooked fresh then served to me on a stone-cold-December plate, way to kill the warmth in a hurry. It was easily 16" across, that's a big plate. Need a proper plate warmer, people! The Gouder house red just might be the driest, earthiest and least fruity wine I've ever had. Definitely worth a try but maybe not worth buying a case LOL. Sorta reasonable at $8 for a glass. Vegetarian rating: 5 stars plus! Many good veg options and they promise it's all vegan, if you care. No TVs and the noise level was quite respectably low, easy to have an adult conversation. read more

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Amazing food with an amazing environment!! Definitely recommended to anybody in the DC area!